Whereas many retail giants are slicing ties with Australia Day for good, one iconic retailer has determined to proceed promoting the controversial merchandise.
The Reject Store at the moment has an in depth Australia Day-themed vary on cabinets, however the resolution to supply the general public vacation items has sparked fierce divide.
Woolworths introduced it could not be promoting any Australia Day-themed gadgets in its supermarkets or Large W shops on Wednesday, launching an enormous public dialog.
The grocery store large stated it sells nationwide flags all yr spherical, however revealed its annual celebration merchandise had been pulled resulting from a “gradual decline” in demand.
This was right down to a “broader dialogue” in regards to the January 26 date and “what it means” to completely different components of the neighborhood, Woolworths said.
Aldi shortly adopted go well with, stating its “Australia Day Particular Buys catalogue” – which had beforehand stocked a variety of themed items – wouldn’t go forward this yr.
Nevertheless, The Reject Store has determined in opposition to following go well with, telling information.com.au the merchandise are “in style” with some clients.
“A spread of Australian-themed merchandise is stocked nationally at The Reject Store over the summer time interval, which is in style with our clients in celebration of main sporting occasions equivalent to cricket and tennis and, for some clients, Australia Day,” a spokesperson stated.
Whereas many have praised Woolworths and Aldi supermarkets for ditching the merchandise, others had been livid, labelling the choice “woke” and “un-Australian”.
However amid the chaos, buyers noticed The Reject Store stocked to the brim with “provides”, with one Australia Day defender sharing a video of merchandise on provide on TikTok.
“Woolworths might have turned their again on Australia and cancelled Australia Day, however The Reject Store has not,” the clip, shared by a distinguished far proper content material creator.
“They’ve all your provides for Australia Day 2024, short-term tattoos, flags, hats, sun shades, tupperware.
“So fill up.”
The girl’s video nevertheless was met with a combined response, with some praising the funds retailer, as others condemned it.
Those that blasted the shop identified for a lot of, January 26 is named “Invasion Day”, a time period coined by Indigenous teams who consider the arrival of colonisation on Australian shores additionally accompanied the deaths and oppression of 1000’s of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals.
“The title of the store explains all of it. INVASION DAY,” one TikTok person commented.
“Nobody is saying we will’t have fun Australia, it’s nearly acknowledging the ache of our Indigenous Australians, and altering the date to 1 not related to trauma,” one other argued.
Many nevertheless appeared overjoyed at discovering The Reject Store nonetheless shares the merchandise, praising the shop.
“Properly completed Reject store I can be shopping for my Australia Day merchandise,” one commented.
“On my option to Reject Store, yea,” one other remarked.
As one claimed: “This simply proves Aussies will store elsewhere, dangerous transfer Woolies.”
Information.com.au has contacted The Reject Store for remark.
Coles promoting Australia Day ‘provides’
The Reject Store isn’t the one retailer that has introduced it could proceed to promote the controversial gadgets, with Coles confirming to information.com.au on Thursday clients who want to take part within the public vacation should buy themed gadgets in its shops nationwide.
“We’re stocking a small vary of Australian-themed summer time entertaining merchandise all through January which is in style with our clients for sporting occasions such because the cricket and tennis, in addition to for the Australia Day weekend,” the spokesperson stated.
‘Individuals ought to boycott’
Dialog across the subject has grow to be so heated, opposition chief Peter Dutton slammed Woolies’ resolution and urged the general public to boycott the chain.
“I believe it’s as much as clients whether or not they wish to purchase the product or not … I believe individuals ought to boycott Woolworths,” he stated.
“I believe till we get some widespread sense out of an organization like Woolworths, I don’t suppose they need to be supported by the general public.”
Anthony Albanese, when requested in regards to the controversy, stated his primary focus was “ensuring that supermarkets do the correct factor by their clients on the checkout” amid the present price of residing disaster.
Mr Albanese has beforehand stated he doesn’t plan to vary the date of Australia Day to maneuver it away from January 26.
